Bank robber gets seven year sentence

He served as lookout in 2005 KeyBank heist.

He served as lookout in 2005 KeyBank heist.

September 17, 2006|MARTI GOODLAD HELINE Tribune Staff Writer

SOUTH BEND -- An Elkhart man who participated as an accomplice in an Elkhart bank robbery a year ago was sentenced Friday to seven years in prison. David Hyman pleaded guilty in federal court in June to assisting Robert Rowsey in the Sept. 14, 2005, holdup of the KeyBank branch at 1320 Middlebury St., Elkhart. Hyman admitted he acted as a lookout and was to be the getaway driver as Rowsey entered the bank with a realistic- looking fake handgun. Hyman apparently left early, leaving Rowsey behind, according to court documents. Hyman said he did not know Rowsey would use flexcuffs to restrain one employee during the robbery. The indictment alleged $23,512 was taken in the holdup. Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald Schmid sought an increase in Hyman's base sentence because of threats Hyman made to try to get witnesses against him to recant. Hyman's sentence was increased more than a year for obstruction of justice, Schmid said. The sentence also was increased for the use of a gun and Hyman's prior criminal record, which includes convictions for burglary, theft, forgery and conversion. U.S. District Judge Allen Sharp ordered Hyman to serve three years on probation after his release. Rowsey was sentenced for the same crime in October to a prison term of 94 months, 10 months longer than Hyman. Both were also ordered to pay $258 restitution.